Canada selects Jay Bouwmeester to replace Duncan Keith at World Cup

Keith is still rehabbing a right knee injury he suffered last season, the Chicago Blackhawks said. The two-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in October.

Bouwmeester rejoins Canada after winning gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. He was chosen as Keith's replacement by Canadian general manager Doug Armstrong, who's also his GM with the St. Louis Blues.

The 32-year-old smooth-skating lefty will presumably again be paired with fellow Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo at the World Cup, which begins Sept. 17 in Toronto.